Utah crisis or not?

A.G. Mark Shurtleff is running for Bob Bennett's senate seat. Gov Huntsman is going to China. Ignoring national-level political ideas, both have been VERY good to gun owners in Utah. The DNC is mobilizing to make a grab for the governor's office, this is the first real shot they have had in years.

Do you think they will try to find a moderate, pro-gun candidate? Do any good republican candidates come to mind?

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KBintheSLC

May 18, 2009, 02:06 PM

I wouldn't worry about it too much. UT is still a vastly pro-gun State... aside from all of the rabid little sticker-laden, soobie-driving, save-Tibet Marxists that have infested Salt Lake in recent years.

Any gubernatorial candidate with an anti-gun record will not likely succeed on a State-wide level.

Girodin

May 18, 2009, 05:34 PM

I worked as a staffer at the Utah state senate and know a thing or two about Utah politics.

I would hesitate to call Huntsman incredibly good to gun owners. Who do you think appointed Hilder to the court of appeals after his dubious rulings in the U of U CCW case? Huntsman is smart enough politically to not pick the wrong fights (not only on gun issues) but I would not expect him to stand up for RTKBA issues if it was at all costly politically for him. The republican party in UT is undoubtably happy to see him going to China. Wayne Holland the chair of the Utah Dem. party siad to me that Huntsman was the best democratic govenor UT had ever had. What does that tell you about the guy.

Huntsman may not have made any anti gun moves but what did he do to push gun rights? He signed bills but that really meant nothing. The Republicans have a super majority in both houses. Look at the recent gun bills and the vote totals, a veto or any opposition would have been steamrolled right over. Huntsman maybe stayed out of the way but he wasn't pushing gun rights.

In Utah the legislature has the power to do as the plese given their super majorities. There are some closely contested seats. Utahns would be well served to be involved in the races for their districts in the state legislature. They are responsible for the great gun and self defense laws we have here. Look at how the oposition party has voted on these issues. If guns are important maintaining the super majorities should be a priority then it wont matter who the govenor is etc. That said the next govenor will be republican and be pro gun. The state still has its head on straight even if SLC has gone to hell in a hand basket.

Shurtleff on the other hand is a true ally of gun owners. He repeatedly took initiative to fight for, defend or expand Utahns gun rights. He believes in them he is not merely playing politics. He is a CFP holder. He would be a good Senator in terms of gun issues for sure.

Do you think they will try to find a moderate, pro-gun candidate?

Jim Matheson is the only dem I see having a shot. Many republicans vote for him in his congressional bids. Many LDS people are under the mistaken impression he is a good active LDS guy who is just like them. His father was a popular governor and he rides that popularity. Matheson has an NRA A rating. As a blue dog dem in congress he has supported gun rights. He has in the past flirted with the idea of a senate run bit thus far been content to stick to his very safe house seat. His brother Scott went down in a state wide race recently. I would bitterly oppose Matheson as a senator or the Gov but again he would not be a threat to gun rights in either post IMO.

I have more confidence in Herbert who will be taking over for Huntsman. He will likely run in 2010. Huntsman selected him to be Lt Gov. largely because he didn't want to face him in the general election.

In summary, Utahs gun rights rest with the state legislature, protect it. Any state wide candidate who is anti gun will not be elected.

JImbothefiveth

May 18, 2009, 05:41 PM

We need a plan for this to be activism. Which candidate should we support?

hso

May 18, 2009, 06:16 PM

Since this isn't in the form required for Activism (no plan presented) I'm moving it to discussion, BUT it needs to change from a political discussion into an effort to develop a plan or it will have to disappear.

Correia

May 18, 2009, 06:20 PM

Personally I'm glad to be rid of Huntsman. Herbert will be an improvement.

I like Mark, and hope he beats Bennett.

The worst case scenario is that Shurtleff decides to postpone the senate run to go for the governor's special election 2010. I would prefer to keep Herbert and lose Bennett. That's a win win.

KBintheSLC

May 18, 2009, 06:49 PM

HSO has called for a plan of action... well I say that as per the title "Utah, crisis or not", I say "not". So my plan of action is to go vote for the best pro-2A candidate in 2010. I don't think there is much more that needs to be done.

Girodin

May 19, 2009, 05:09 AM

The plan for action should be to be involved at the primary election level (and earlier). By the time the general election roles around most things are essentially already determined. This is very true for the gov. and congressional races. Who ever gets the republican nomination will win the senate seats and the governorship. Gun owners need to be at the caucuses and voting in the primaries to ensure good gun rights candidates get the nominations(who will become office holders).

These offices are important but I would urge utahns to find the districts they live in for the state legislature and research their rep and senator. See how they have done on gun issues. Some of these races are safe seats but some are very very very close races. Again involvement at the caucus and primary level is important in shaping candidates in the non competitive districts but also in the contested ones. If you are a democrat help determine if you will have rapid anti gunners like Scott McCoy and Romero or if you can get more moderate pro gunners who more closely resemble Matheson.

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